An Adelaide Beer Garden for Every Occasion

From inner-city refuges with open fires, to cosy lawns ideal for first dates, Adelaide has a beer garden for every occasion.

Photography: Jacqui Turk

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The Stanley Bridge Tavern, Adelaide

Photography: Josie Withers

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Benjamin on Franklin

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Published on 08 May 2017

by Camellia Aebischer

Adelaide’s mild climate has led to an abundance of open-air spaces designed for outdoor drinking and dining. Whatever the occasion for your tipple, there’s an ideal option to satisfy everyone in your party. From the CBD to the Adelaide Hills – here’s our guide.

Group get-togethers – Benjamin on Franklin

If you have a large, casual gathering to host, this restored CBD pub on the quiet end of Franklin Street is just the spot. The outdoor area – with large booths and kitschy decorations – can be booked for two to 20-plus people.

The big tables have bench seating, so squeezing in one extra is easy. Groups should take advantage of the special that gets you three share plates – such as meatballs, corn fritters and cocktail shrimp – for $30.

Even when the sun refuses to shine you can find refuge in the beer garden at the back of The Edinburgh Castle Hotel on Currie Street. The quaint pub – which hasn’t let its recent renovation detract from its character – has a range of craft beers and a clever cocktail list.

In the garden, fire pits warm hands and lace the air with the comforting smell of wood smoke; it’s like camping, but with a full bar and kitchen just a few metres away. If you’re feeling the chill, head inside for live bands and $10 meals with a drink.

Still considered something of a hidden gem, the picturesque views and leafy surrounds of Norton Summit’s Scenic Hotel make it a first-date favourite. The beer garden is slightly separated from the pub, so you can talk over a seasonal pub meal without distraction, or take in the vista from the pub balcony.

For the ultimate in romance, claim the spot on the two-seater garden bench at sunset.

When a casual weeknight dinner is what you’re after, North Adelaide’s The Curious Squire – with its patio and two-way roof, suitable for all seasons – is waiting with open (or closed) shuttered windows.

Wednesday’s pull factor of 50c wings, along with the entire selection of James Squire beers on tap, makes it an easy option when you don’t have the energy to cook. There are also a few small-batch brews you can’t sample anywhere else, including James Squire’s latest limited releases, Mid River, Mid-Strength Pale Ale and Malt Shovel Brewer’s Interceptor, Black IPA.

The Stanley Bridge Tavern is half an hour from the city in the Adelaide Hills. Recent renovations have seen its outdoor area triple in size, and the sun-dappled beer garden is suited to family gatherings, or occasions that require a bit more finesse.

Among the gum trees, you can enjoy sustainable and local meals from the kitchen, and beers poured from an original front bar that dates back to 1853. Make sure you give regular pub goer Benny, a Jack Russell Terrier, a pat on the head.